This week has been so interesting, moving, confusing, and inspiring. Sometime you get what you plan for...and other times [as learned in my study of 'life interruptions'] you get more or less. In this case, I got more.
Sunday afternoon, I watched my family engage in helping a missionary move into their home. I am learning that I have a few leaders [builders] among the children. It was interesting to watch them.
That day, we met a few young 'builders' who are not satisfied to just rest in the comforts of their father's tents. And they were willing to get out from under the comfort and security of that umbrella to build what God had called them to build. It was so moving to hear them.
Tuesday, I heard two young men speak about building some more in a city where they had not historical roots. [or did they?] How could someone speak so passionately about something with which they were relatively unfamiliar? They had not really started building anything yet. [or had they?] I was a little confused.
But as I met with them again on Wednesday morning privately, I realized that they were talking about starting to build something physically noticeable...but the truth is that they had already started building something. God was building in them and they were already building for God, though others may not have realized it yet. That was so inspiring.
Certainly, we all build on the work of others before us and we should never think we had begun something from scratch. I read this morning how King David [Israel] wanted to build a physical house for God. But God told David something incredible. God said that His presence and His Kingdom were not dependent on David building a physical house for God. Rather, it was about being a useable builder in the hand of God for building His Kingdom on earth in the hearts of people.
We have a generation of builders coming...and some have arrived...who seem to get it. They are not concerned about building a physical house for God. They are concerned about building places where God can dwell in the hearts of people.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Would Jesus Discriminate?
Last night I was watching C-Span. No, it is not my typical bedtime ritual. But last night I was captured by the words of an author who wrote a book entitled, "Would Jesus Discriminate?" A few years ago, I would have my stomach turned by what I heard. But last night, I just felt sad.
To the average church goer, it may have sounded like a good explanation of a Biblical text. To a non-church goer, I'm sure that it sounded like a logical interpretation. However, this leader of an international denomination that caters to the gay and lesbian community took the Word of God totally out of context to make it sound like the sexual preferences of non-heterosexuals was not only allowed, but encouraged. (Galatians 3:28) This text has nothing to do with sexual preference, but with a religious system that tried to restrict people from coming to God through faith in Christ.
I have heard this and other arguments before...but not on national television...and certainly not as a promotional piece for that line of thinking. Unfortunately, this is only one area where we are bombarded with un-biblical truth and thought. I think that it made me more aware of the fact that culture in not just trying to get Bible believers to be more tolerant, but are trying to invade the church with unbiblical thinking. They are intentionally storming the church to destroy it.
No, I am not surprised at any of this. But it makes me more convinced than ever that we must be diligent at teaching the Word of God...and teaching people to read, study, and know the Word of God themselves. Secondly, instead of being mad at the people who were speaking...I have become increasingly angry at the one who has blinded their eyes to actually believe this stuff.
Finally, to answer the question..."Would Jesus Discriminate?" Well, with the understanding that He is God, "Would God Discriminate?" Yes! All the time! From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is full of discrimination. The difference is that God does not discriminate on the basis of petty things like people have...for centuries. God's discrimination takes place based on the our acceptance of Him as Sovereign and our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
To the average church goer, it may have sounded like a good explanation of a Biblical text. To a non-church goer, I'm sure that it sounded like a logical interpretation. However, this leader of an international denomination that caters to the gay and lesbian community took the Word of God totally out of context to make it sound like the sexual preferences of non-heterosexuals was not only allowed, but encouraged. (Galatians 3:28) This text has nothing to do with sexual preference, but with a religious system that tried to restrict people from coming to God through faith in Christ.
I have heard this and other arguments before...but not on national television...and certainly not as a promotional piece for that line of thinking. Unfortunately, this is only one area where we are bombarded with un-biblical truth and thought. I think that it made me more aware of the fact that culture in not just trying to get Bible believers to be more tolerant, but are trying to invade the church with unbiblical thinking. They are intentionally storming the church to destroy it.
No, I am not surprised at any of this. But it makes me more convinced than ever that we must be diligent at teaching the Word of God...and teaching people to read, study, and know the Word of God themselves. Secondly, instead of being mad at the people who were speaking...I have become increasingly angry at the one who has blinded their eyes to actually believe this stuff.
Finally, to answer the question..."Would Jesus Discriminate?" Well, with the understanding that He is God, "Would God Discriminate?" Yes! All the time! From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is full of discrimination. The difference is that God does not discriminate on the basis of petty things like people have...for centuries. God's discrimination takes place based on the our acceptance of Him as Sovereign and our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Life Interruptions
Last night, we began a journey group study in our home entitled, "Life Interruptions". We had such a good time with our new summer Bible study group and were moved by the message from Louie Giglio about the way our plans get interrupted...sometimes by God and other times by the normal course of life. Our response in those times really does show what we believe about God, even in the minor distractions. Just when we think we have life all under control, BAM! God reminds us that we really control nothing.
It really prepared me for this morning. I came into the office early and planned out my day...and my week. But within an hour...BAM! I ended up spending the majority of my day at the hospital with a dear saint of God and her family as she is facing what appears to be her home going. Here I am near the end of the work day (like there really is one in ministry) and I am looking at my list...my plan. Well, it's about half completed. But it really doesn't matter that much.
So, I think I'll turn the computer off and run back to the hospital and check on my dear sister in Christ. What a privilege to have your day interrupted with something so important...so eternal...to remind us that the stuff I planned to do today was not as important as I thought.
It really prepared me for this morning. I came into the office early and planned out my day...and my week. But within an hour...BAM! I ended up spending the majority of my day at the hospital with a dear saint of God and her family as she is facing what appears to be her home going. Here I am near the end of the work day (like there really is one in ministry) and I am looking at my list...my plan. Well, it's about half completed. But it really doesn't matter that much.
So, I think I'll turn the computer off and run back to the hospital and check on my dear sister in Christ. What a privilege to have your day interrupted with something so important...so eternal...to remind us that the stuff I planned to do today was not as important as I thought.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Somethings Take Time
I was reading this morning in the Bible about a period where the nation of Israel had strayed from God. They took the first step of inviting God back into their lives, but it took 20 years of being sorrowful before God spoke to them in a way that helped them to move on. Then they were given instruction on what to do and as they were obedient, they saw God do incredible things...including restoring all of the territory that had been taken from them by their enemies.
Two things stuck out for my life, as well as for our country and our church. First, life did not stop while they were 'lamenting' the error of their ways and their rejection of God. They still had to go to work, feed their kids, etc. Life went on...everyday. Secondly, God did not tell them to 'lament' for 20 years...it was just the time when God knew that they were ready to hear from Him and ready to be obedient. But they had to wait...a long time.
When it comes to our relationship with God, we so often get in a hurry (or hurry others) to 'get on with life'. We have a false sense of life, as if it stops while we work on restoring our relationships. Life does not stop when relationships are strained or broken. Most broken or strained relationships don't just happen in a moment of time. We need to be careful to allow Godly sorrow to run its course in our lives...sometimes it just takes time for it to do its work so that we do not quickly make the same mistakes again.
Based on this story from the Bible, the nation of Israel (in time) was ready to corporately move on in obedience to God. Yes, everyone was 20 years older and it may seem to have been wasted years in their lives...and it was to the extent that had they been obedient in the beginning it would have never happened. But to an infinite God who is not on a calendar, it was just a speck in the course of eternity. But their first step was to invite and allow God to dwell with them again.
When we have broken relationships, the first step is to sincerely invite that person back into our lives. However, we cannot expect that everything just moves on immediately. We need to give it time. Maybe you have been away from God for what seems like a long time of wasted years...there is hope. God can restore your life. The first step is to invite Him into your life...to dwell in you, your home, your heart. He desires it. Do we?
(1 Samuel 5-7)
Two things stuck out for my life, as well as for our country and our church. First, life did not stop while they were 'lamenting' the error of their ways and their rejection of God. They still had to go to work, feed their kids, etc. Life went on...everyday. Secondly, God did not tell them to 'lament' for 20 years...it was just the time when God knew that they were ready to hear from Him and ready to be obedient. But they had to wait...a long time.
When it comes to our relationship with God, we so often get in a hurry (or hurry others) to 'get on with life'. We have a false sense of life, as if it stops while we work on restoring our relationships. Life does not stop when relationships are strained or broken. Most broken or strained relationships don't just happen in a moment of time. We need to be careful to allow Godly sorrow to run its course in our lives...sometimes it just takes time for it to do its work so that we do not quickly make the same mistakes again.
Based on this story from the Bible, the nation of Israel (in time) was ready to corporately move on in obedience to God. Yes, everyone was 20 years older and it may seem to have been wasted years in their lives...and it was to the extent that had they been obedient in the beginning it would have never happened. But to an infinite God who is not on a calendar, it was just a speck in the course of eternity. But their first step was to invite and allow God to dwell with them again.
When we have broken relationships, the first step is to sincerely invite that person back into our lives. However, we cannot expect that everything just moves on immediately. We need to give it time. Maybe you have been away from God for what seems like a long time of wasted years...there is hope. God can restore your life. The first step is to invite Him into your life...to dwell in you, your home, your heart. He desires it. Do we?
(1 Samuel 5-7)
Monday, June 2, 2008
Communication
This has been one of the busiest seasons in the life of our family and ministry. And as we do more in the lives of our children, our church, and community, it seems so easy to fail to communicate effectively or in a timely manner. The interesting thing that I am learning is that as I put off focusing on communicating better, the more stressed I become and the more appologies I have to make.
Why? I am reminded that our lives are about glorifying God (for certain), but they are not lived or lived out on an island. But rather, they are lived out with and through other people. I have to do a better job.
All week, last week, I knew that I needed to confirm the use of our neighborhood building for a small group fellowship...and then communicate that to the people who were going to be a part of our small groups. However, I kept putting off locating the number to call, and did not do it until Saturday night. Sunday morning, I made a quick announcement, put out a sign-up sheet, and was a bit dissappointed when only 2 families signed-up. That was not the big 'ahah' moment. It was when one family called at 6:00 p.m. and wondered where we were meeting. (We weren't until next Friday.) Another family called as well. I really blew it.
The really sad part is that this was not the only blunder for the week. So I am confessing that I will do better...because people matter. It even forced me to clarify a few things within our family last night about our week. Heaven help us to communicate and not to procrastinate. If you think we think we are too busy to communicate effectively, the reality is that we are too busy to communicate with anything less than full effort.
Why? I am reminded that our lives are about glorifying God (for certain), but they are not lived or lived out on an island. But rather, they are lived out with and through other people. I have to do a better job.
All week, last week, I knew that I needed to confirm the use of our neighborhood building for a small group fellowship...and then communicate that to the people who were going to be a part of our small groups. However, I kept putting off locating the number to call, and did not do it until Saturday night. Sunday morning, I made a quick announcement, put out a sign-up sheet, and was a bit dissappointed when only 2 families signed-up. That was not the big 'ahah' moment. It was when one family called at 6:00 p.m. and wondered where we were meeting. (We weren't until next Friday.) Another family called as well. I really blew it.
The really sad part is that this was not the only blunder for the week. So I am confessing that I will do better...because people matter. It even forced me to clarify a few things within our family last night about our week. Heaven help us to communicate and not to procrastinate. If you think we think we are too busy to communicate effectively, the reality is that we are too busy to communicate with anything less than full effort.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Flood From the Past
It seems like such a long time ago that Hurricane Katrina survivors came to Greenville and our church had such an opportunity to hear their stories and minister to them in our city. Today, I spent day 3 hanging sheet rock / drywall in a home still devastated by the storm...and a family still living (almost 3 years later) in a small FEMA trailor in their front yard.
Yes, I'm in New Orleans with 3 guys from our church and 7 guys from 7 other churches working through the NOAH rebuild project. Today, we met Leavy...a 70 year old woman who has been living 3 hours away until her home is repaired. When given a small gift card to Home Depot by our group, she asked if she could make a donation to our church...not your common response.
We also met Kimberly...a single mom who just moved back into her home 2 weeks ago with her daughter. Some guys from the team drywalled her home a year ago. She invited us over to see the results. What a long journey home.
In our group devotions tonight, we were reminded that our sacrifice to come here (including that of our families) is only for a week...then we will go back to our regular routines. But these people are still dealing with the physical, spiritual, and emotional storms from this tragic flood.
I was reminded of how our family live through the great flood of Hurricane Floyd some years back in North Carolina and the damage that is still visible there. The memories of feeding trailors and Baptist disaster relief workers has come back so vividly.
Events often leave scars in our lives, not just the physical storms, but also the relationship storms. And if we are to look, we can see the devistation all around us. Some people need help to move out of the FEMA trailor to which they have been confined for so long and back home again. Not back to the same old home...but to one that has been touched by the hand of God. And often that happens through the lifting and attaching of a piece of fresh drywall by a willing servant of the Master...maybe like you and me.
Yes, I'm in New Orleans with 3 guys from our church and 7 guys from 7 other churches working through the NOAH rebuild project. Today, we met Leavy...a 70 year old woman who has been living 3 hours away until her home is repaired. When given a small gift card to Home Depot by our group, she asked if she could make a donation to our church...not your common response.
We also met Kimberly...a single mom who just moved back into her home 2 weeks ago with her daughter. Some guys from the team drywalled her home a year ago. She invited us over to see the results. What a long journey home.
In our group devotions tonight, we were reminded that our sacrifice to come here (including that of our families) is only for a week...then we will go back to our regular routines. But these people are still dealing with the physical, spiritual, and emotional storms from this tragic flood.
I was reminded of how our family live through the great flood of Hurricane Floyd some years back in North Carolina and the damage that is still visible there. The memories of feeding trailors and Baptist disaster relief workers has come back so vividly.
Events often leave scars in our lives, not just the physical storms, but also the relationship storms. And if we are to look, we can see the devistation all around us. Some people need help to move out of the FEMA trailor to which they have been confined for so long and back home again. Not back to the same old home...but to one that has been touched by the hand of God. And often that happens through the lifting and attaching of a piece of fresh drywall by a willing servant of the Master...maybe like you and me.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Coming Home
It seems as if the older I get (now passing the 40 mark), the more often my trips home to Ohio are marked by funerals. On Thursday my older brother and I had the privilege to conduct the funeral of our last remaining grandmother. And all of the things that we tell people in our ministries literally have to be proven in our response to death in our own family.
I was once again reminded of the impact of what many would consider a very insignificant life. My grandmother lived 'up the hollow' in a farm house a few miles from where she grew up. She never had a driver's license, but seemed to know about everyone in town. And when the memorial service was about to begin, the funeral director had to get more chairs as it was a standing room only crowd. Nearly everyone there had been affected by this life and family in a significant way.
Leave it to a funeral to bring out the best and worst in a family...but all we got to see was the best. So many friends told us how proud my grandma (Nonnie) was of us grandchildren and how she was always speaking a kind word about us to her friends. But I think the most moving thing that happened was seeing our usually 'less than affectionate' grandfather (now 86), walk up to the casket time and again to pat her hand and say some of the most beautiful words.
Life seems to keep us so busy that I saw family members that I had not seen in at least 10-15 years. We get so engaged in our lives and families that our trips 'coming home' are now few and far between. However, when we come for these sacred occasions, there seems to be less small talk. The conversations seem to quickly turn to what really matters. I'm not sure why that does not happen more often...but funerals seem to bring out the urgency and brevity in life.
This morning, the phone rang early telling us that my grandmother's sister experienced the death of her husband during the night...so there will be another memorial service before I return to South Carolina next week. I guess it is now just the reality of coming home.
I was once again reminded of the impact of what many would consider a very insignificant life. My grandmother lived 'up the hollow' in a farm house a few miles from where she grew up. She never had a driver's license, but seemed to know about everyone in town. And when the memorial service was about to begin, the funeral director had to get more chairs as it was a standing room only crowd. Nearly everyone there had been affected by this life and family in a significant way.
Leave it to a funeral to bring out the best and worst in a family...but all we got to see was the best. So many friends told us how proud my grandma (Nonnie) was of us grandchildren and how she was always speaking a kind word about us to her friends. But I think the most moving thing that happened was seeing our usually 'less than affectionate' grandfather (now 86), walk up to the casket time and again to pat her hand and say some of the most beautiful words.
Life seems to keep us so busy that I saw family members that I had not seen in at least 10-15 years. We get so engaged in our lives and families that our trips 'coming home' are now few and far between. However, when we come for these sacred occasions, there seems to be less small talk. The conversations seem to quickly turn to what really matters. I'm not sure why that does not happen more often...but funerals seem to bring out the urgency and brevity in life.
This morning, the phone rang early telling us that my grandmother's sister experienced the death of her husband during the night...so there will be another memorial service before I return to South Carolina next week. I guess it is now just the reality of coming home.
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